Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: matlock on March 28, 2008, 10:35:04 PM

Title: Which pickups can get this sound?
Post by: matlock on March 28, 2008, 10:35:04 PM

I just bought an Edwards JP Les Paul and want to get some pickups to help me get my dream tone.  One of my all-time favorite tones is from Brian Blush, a guitarist from my area (Detroit, MI), who used to play with a band called The Refreshments.  I was thinking I could just go and get the Seymour Duncans as noted below, but wanted to try BKP-equivalents because of the reputation and quality.

I'm guessing Brian uses the neck+bridge (middle) toggle position a lot.  Here's his setup:
Guitar: "Goldie" Gibson Les Paul Classic (goldtop)
Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB
Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom Custom (this is a bridge pickup that he puts in the neck)

He also splits his guitar into two amps: Matchless and GT Soul-O.

Here are some links to mp3 files containing the sound I'm going for.  Some songs start out with a Tele/Strat rhtyhm.  You should hear it when the Les Paul kicks in.
http://home.comcast.net/~matlock57/refreshments/Nada.mp3
http://home.comcast.net/~matlock57/refreshments/Banditos.mp3
http://home.comcast.net/~matlock57/refreshments/Girly.mp3
http://home.comcast.net/~matlock57/refreshments/Mekong.mp3
http://home.comcast.net/~matlock57/refreshments/Don't%20Wanna%20Know.mp3
http://home.comcast.net/~matlock57/refreshments/Carefree.mp3

I've also got an email into Tim to get his opinion.

Thanks!

matlock

Title: Which pickups can get this sound?
Post by: ilÿti on March 28, 2008, 10:54:20 PM

If you want the equivalents to those pups, I believe Nailbombs is the choice. But judging from the clips, this is the sound that Mules are for.

Title: Which pickups can get this sound?
Post by: shaman on March 29, 2008, 12:57:01 AM

welcome aboard-dig those Refreshments....always heard that neck pup happening in that tone-I really think its hard to beat the Mules for this..I have Rebel Yells in my Standard that cop that tone as well-those other pups are fine(it is what he uses,so...), but BK's are unique...and they really help you find YOUR tone after a few months with them
-I have a few buds who have basically the same setup as mine(mesa boogie 2c's..Les Pauls..ev speakers..)they always comment on my rebel yells-that tells me something
oh,and btw, if you are a fan of the warren haynes tone, the Mules NAIL IT-'nuff said

Title: Rebels and Mules...oh my!
Post by: matlock on March 29, 2008, 01:23:49 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

Shaman, after more researching, I'm really thinking the Rebels might be what I'm looking for in a bridge.  I'm not a big fan of the W. Haynes neck tone.  The neck has a bit of a syruppy PRS-types tone to my ears.  Similar to Santana.  Not my thing.  I may just try the Custom Custom in the neck to begin with and see where that gets me.

So, the Custom Custom is a Alnico II bridge PU that may run a little hot in the neck pos.  Others that have done this say that they lower the PU and get some fantastic tone out of it.

Question is, then... Is the Rebel Yell in the bridge hot enough to keep up with the CC in the neck?

Also, could try a Black Dog in the bridge.  I love that pickup.

Title: Which pickups can get this sound?
Post by: ericsabbath on March 29, 2008, 02:28:35 AM

crawler, rebell yell, holy diver or nailbomb for the bridge (yeah, lot of options :lol:)

hmm.. neck nailbomb?

Title: Which pickups can get this sound?
Post by: shaman on March 29, 2008, 03:28:06 AM

remember, a lot of the fat warren haynes tone comes from those modded Soldanos!!!-if you go rebel, I would get a calibrated set-well balanced and sound sweet in the middle position if you dont want too much fatback

Title: Which pickups can get this sound?
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 30, 2008, 12:40:09 AM

Go Rebel Yells bridge and neck, you can'tgo wrong! They sound fantastic.  8)

Title: Which pickups can get this sound?
Post by: splawnster on March 30, 2008, 05:05:22 AM

I think the crawler would be great for those sounds